Epidemiology of Acute Critical Limb Ischemia

Abstract

Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is defined as any sudden decrease in limb perfusion causing a potential threat to limb viability [ 1 ]. The incidence of ALI is 9–16 cases per 100,000 persons per year for the lower extremity [ 2 – 4 ] and around 1–3 cases per 100,000 persons per year for the upper extremity [ 5 ]. Etiology includes embolism, in situ thrombosis with coexisting peripheral arterial disease (PAD), graft/stent thrombosis, trauma, or peripheral aneurysm with embolism or thrombosis. ALI management makes up 10–16 % of the vascular workload for the average vascular specialist. Amputation and mortality rates are historically high in these patients, however, with advances in anticoagulation and surgical therapy that have decreased over time.